Achieving FI through Improving Real Estate and Communities with Sam Sells
Sam Sells, a real estate investor, joins us for an interview where he shares his journey to financial freedom. Sam started with single-family homes while working as a healthcare administrator before eventually achieving financial independence through real estate investments. He discusses his challenges during the recession and how he used VA loans to buy properties. We discuss the need for more education on real estate investing and the importance of understanding proper and wrong decisions in the field. Sam emphasizes the need for thorough inspections and budget padding when undertaking heavy-value add projects.
Additionally, he highlights their focus on positively impacting the communities where they invest. Overall, this conversation highlights valuable lessons from experience while offering advice for investors looking to make informed decisions. Tune in now for an engaging discussion!
[00:01 – 08:54] Opening Segment
- Sam Sells shares his journey to achieving financial independence through real estate investing
- He started with single-family homes and learned through books and education programs
- Sam buys neglected properties to improve the community and create safe living spaces
[08:55 – 14:30] From Flipped Houses to Mobile Home Parks: A Real Estate Investor’s Journey to Success
- Sam also worked in hospital administration and global health for a decade, learning about sustainable systems and profit motives
- Eventually, he turned to commercial real estate and bought two mobile home parks with his father using a master lease tool
- They fixed up the homes and began making $10k/month in free cash
[14:31 – 22:54] The Unglamorous Reality of Scaling a Business
- Working for free requires equity or family ties
- Syndications are an easier way to build net worth and passive income
- His daily schedule involves early morning work and family time in the evening
- Making an impact on communities through heavy value-add projects requires hiring professionals and understanding the property’s condition
- Budgets must be padded and capitalized correctly from the beginning to avoid blowing out of the water
[22:55 – 28:43] How to Ensure Your Investments Have a Positive Impact on Properties
- The importance of being well-capitalized in real estate investments
- Detailed inspection of properties to identify potential issues
- Knowledge of different types of sellers and their mistakes can impact the success
- Front-loading construction work for more accurate predictions and lower holding costs
- The importance of investing in clean money that aligns with personal values
[28:44 – 33:56] Closing Segment
- Best investment made: marrying his wife
- The worst investment made: investing in a structurally unstable property
- Most important lesson: It’s all about the people
Quotes:
“We like to buy those properties and make a major difference there and improve the community, and in the process, improve the property and just really create safe, clean places for people to live.” – Sam Sells
“Commercial real estate’s a team sport.” – Sam Sells
“When you invest in syndications, you can get a pretty good idea of what your money is being used for, right? You can invest in a way that’s clean and it makes a difference.” – Sam Sells
Connect with Sam!
Website: www.wildmountaincapital.com
Invest passively in multiple commercial real estate assets such as apartments, self-storage, medical facilities, hotels, and more through https://www.passivewealthstrategy.com/crowdstreet/
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About our Guest
Sam Sells
Sam is a retired US Air Force officer and combat veteran who founded Wild Mountain Capital in 2018 with his hero dad.